Missing NAC Twin Otter found Crashed: All Passengers Dead
The missing Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) Twin Otter boarded for Jumla was found crashed today at Masina Lek of Khachikot VDC in Arghakhachi. The twin otter went missing since yesterday afternoon after its fly off at 12:43 PM from Pokhara. With tragedy, all the 18 passengers including 3 navigation team members boarding on the aircraft has been reported dead. The Military Public Relations Directorate of Nepal Army reported that the dead bodies of the 18 passengers have been found. Out of the dead, only seven dead bodies have been identified yet. All the dead bodies have been brought to Kathmandu through Nepal Army Helicopter this afternoon.
Among the identified are: Chairman of Nepali Congress Office in Jumla, Manav Sejuwal, Major of Nepal Army, Deepak Shrestha, Barsha Hamal, Sahish Hamal, Dibesh Shahi, Air Hostess on the twin otter, Muna Maharjan and Rajendra Chaulagain.
The aircraft crash zone was located by the rescue team of Nepal Army. The twin otter was found crashed by the rescue team of Nepal Army, Nepal Police Force and Armed Police Force this morning. The twin otter is supposed to be crashed after being hit on Sengleng Hill of Masina Lek. The crash spot is about 45 Km away from the district headquarters of Arghakhachi, Sandhikhark. Amidst the difficulty in amassing the scattered dead bodies, the rescue team drew the dead bodies covered in snow heaps in the high hills of Masina Lek.
An MI 17 Helicopter of Nepal Army and two helicopters of Simrik Air were operated for rescue. For the rescue work, a temporary helipad was also made on the crash spot. Since yesterday afternoon, the rescue team of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and locals started searching for the missing aircraft around the suspected fall zone in the borderline of Arghakhachi, Palpa and Gulmi. But due to unfavorable weather conditions, they couldn’t locate the aircraft till this morning. After being brought to Kathmandu, all the dead bodies have been taken from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) for post-mortem purpose.
All Images Courtesy: Armed Police Force
Watch the heart-touching video below on the dead passengers boarding on the crashed twin otter:
We express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wish that the soul of dead may rest in peace.
